If you want to start your new life with your newborn baby on a peaceful, well-rested note, swaddling is a great choice!

For hundreds, if not thousands of years, swaddling has been an effective way of helping you and your little one get the sleep you both deserve and need, from providing a sense of security to reducing the impact of the startle reflex through the night. However, this is only if you do it correctly!

But don't worry - getting your little one swaddled just right is quick and easy, especially with modern products like our new Zen Neo™ swaddle pod.

Here, we'll go over the different kinds of swaddle you can expect to come across, the dos and don'ts of swaddling, and where to find extra help if you need it.

In this article

Types of swaddle

The dos of swaddling

The don'ts of swaddling

When to seek help

Commonly asked questions about swaddling dos and don'ts

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Types of swaddle

Swaddle blankets

If you're wanting to go the traditional route, swaddle blankets have been around for centuries, and can be used to bundle up your baby through various wrapping techniques.

Usually taking the form of soft fabric squares, here's slightly more of a learning curve with these than newer style products, but many swear by them, and they remain popular to this day for a reason!

If you're looking for a modern twist on a classic product, why not try our own Zen Swaddle™? Gently weighted to give your baby extra comfort, this swaddle blanket is easy to use and comes in lots of adorable designs!

Sleep sacks

Sleep sacks designed specifically for swaddling are a little easier than a swaddling blanket to master - usually, you just zip your baby in and you're ready to go!

This can be great for parents who are worried about getting their blanket techniques right, or parents with accessibility issues who want something simple and straightforward to bundle up their baby in.

If you're looking for an easy to use swaddle then you can't go wrong with our Zen One™ - gently weighted like our Zen Swaddle, this swaddle sack also has detachable arm sections, meaning you can continue to use it even after your baby has grown out of the swaddling stage!

Swaddle pods

The next evolution in swaddling is here - the snug, stretchy, secure swaddle pod! Made from fabric designed to give your baby the perfect cozy swaddling fit, our Zen Neo is also gently weighted like all of our Zen Sleepwear™ to mimic your touch, so you can keep your baby calm and relax yourself knowing that they have the best swaddle yet!

Swaddling: mom hack!

'Best thing ever invented. This is the second one we’ve purchased because he out grew the first. We use it for naps and it is an essential part of our bedtime routine. My little guy went from waking every two hours to nurse to sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night at only 2 months old since wearing the Zen One'

- Amanda I. on the Zen One

Swaddling techniques:the dos

Before you start swaddling your newborn, there are a few tips you should keep in mind for your baby's safety and comfort - here are the most important:

Make sure you use a proper swaddle technique

Instead of picking up a new swaddle wrap and just winging it, you should make sure you're following a swaddling technique from a reputable source. Here's a quick swaddling guide for parents who choose to use our Zen Swaddle blanket:

1. Position the swaddle on the baby's body
2. Wrap the right swaddle wing over your baby's right shoulder, bringing it around to their left arm and wrapping under their back to their right arm
3. Wrap the left swaddle wing over your baby's left shoulder, bringing it around to their right arm and wrapping it under their back to their left arm
4. Secure with the velcro
5. Check to ensure there are only two fingers of slack at the shoulders and no fabric covering baby's face

Follow AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines

The American Academy of Pediatrics is a fantastic source for reliable information on baby health. It's a great idea to look over their safe sleep guidelines before your baby comes, especially their swaddling-specific information.

Babies should be on backs

Whether or not you're swaddling your baby, you should always make sure that you're putting your baby to sleep on their back.

This is to reduce the increased rate of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) associated with placing babies on their front, which is particularly important when it comes to swaddling - if baby is on their front with their arms in the swaddle, they might struggle to move themselves if in a dangerous position.

Keep legs loose

While you definitely want baby's arms to be wrapped up tightly in the baby burrito, the same can't be said for your baby's legs - instead, you want them to be able to wiggle around freely in the swaddle! This is because wrapping up your baby's legs tightly can lead to problems like hip dysplasia - you can check out the International Hip Dysplasia Institute for more information.

Keep baby cool

You can imagine that when baby's wrapped up tight, you run the risk of them getting too warm. Make sure to check for signs of overheating - flushed cheeks, damp hair, and being hot to the touch are all common symptoms - and keep baby in just a diaper under the swaddle if you need to.

Use a light sheet

If you live in a hotter climate or just want a lighter swaddle for the summer months, you can use a breathable swaddle during these periods like our Zen Swaddle Premier, which is made from breathable bamboo and cotton.

Consider a pod shape for easy changes, uninterrupted sleep

Our new Zen Neo swaddle pod makes it easy even for swaddling beginners to get a perfect fit for their baby, and the gently weighted pad mimics your touch to help baby self soothe for a better night's sleep!

From the experts

'Swaddling can lead to longer, sounder sleep. While a newborn sleeps about 16 hours a day, it’s usually in 3- to 4-hour intervals. However, swaddling increases your baby’s REM (rapid eye movement), which means he/she is less likely to wake up once they fall asleep.'

- Lauren Adler, M.D., Westchester Health Blog

Swaddling techniques: the don'ts

Never place a baby on their stomach

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that you should never place a baby on their stomach for the first year of their life, and should instead place your baby face up.

This is because it can significantly increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), as babies are unable to get themselves out of a suffocating position.

Don’t swaddle to loosely

Swaddling too loosely can lead to your little one breaking out of the swaddle blanket - not only does this undo the benefits that the swaddle provides for helping your baby sleep, but it also poses a SIDS risk as it can cover your baby's face.

Don’t swaddle too tight

On the other end of the spectrum, swaddling your baby too tightly can become dangerous, as it can restrict their breathing and lead to problems like hip dysplasia. When swaddling your baby in a traditional style blanket, ensure that you can fit two fingers under the fabric on your baby's chest, and that their legs are free to move around inside the swaddle.

Alternatively, you can try our Zen Neo swaddle pod and get a perfect fit with ease!

Don’t leave loose blankets or pillows on your baby’s bed

You should never let pillows, loose blankets, stuffed animals, or anything else lie in your baby's bed when they're asleep, particularly if they have been swaddled. This is because these objects can potentially cover your baby's face, increasing the chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

From the experts: when to stop swaddling

'You may swaddle your newborn to sleep until they can roll over on their own, which usually begins around four to six months.

It's very important that you stop swaddling them after they start to roll over on their own because swaddled babies who roll from their back onto their belly could have trouble lifting themselves up and they could asphyxiate.'

- Lukas Southard, medically reviewed by Sara Siddiqui M.D. for Insider

When to seek extra help

You should never feel ashamed if you need a little extra help with anything baby-related, especially swaddle techniques - newborn babies are complicated, and you can't expect yourself to know absolutely everything!

Don't be afraid to ask your parents or friends with kids for help, and if you don't have anyone close to talk to, you should contact your pediatrician for expert advice on how to swaddle a baby properly.

When done right, swaddling is a fantastic tool for new parents that can help calm your baby through the night, and help you get some much-needed sleep back - you've got this!

Common questions about swaddling dos and don'ts

• Is it okay to swaddle a baby all night?

  Swaddling a baby through the night is completely safe when done correctly! As long as you made sure to follow safe swaddling guidelines like placing your baby on their back to sleep and removing loose blankets from the bed, your baby can sleep safe and sound through the night with their swaddle on.

• What do you do with a swaddled baby?

  When you swaddle a baby, you're increasing their chance of sleeping through when you put them to bed. Swaddling can soothe babies by providing them with a similarly warm and secure hold to what they felt in the womb, making them feel calmer in their big new world. If you want to start swaddling your baby but aren't sure about all the folding and tucking, you could try our new Zen Neo swaddle pod! It's easy to take your baby in and out, and with the gently weighted pad that mimics your touch, both you and your baby can get a better night's sleep than ever before.

• Is swaddling safe?

  When done right, swaddling is perfectly safe, and has actually been shown in studies to decrease your baby's risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), contrary to some of the misinformed beliefs that have emerged over the past few years. As long as you follow the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines when you swaddle your little one, you can rest assured that your bundled baby will be sleeping safe and sound. Additionally, you can look at the International Hip Dysplasia Institute for information on hip dysplasia, which can be caused if you swaddle your baby's legs too tightly.

• How many hours a day should you swaddle?

  While it's safe to swaddle your baby throughout their nighttime sleep, as well as during their daytime naps, you'll only want them to be in the swaddle when you want them to sleep to ensure that you're creating positive sleep associations for the future. Generally speaking, the time that your baby spends awake is for activities that require the removal of the swaddle anyway such as changing and bathing, so don't worry - it'll be there when you need it!

• When should you stop swaddling baby?

  You should stop swaddling your baby when they are able to roll over onto their tummy independently; for most babies, this is around the four-month mark, though it's normal for your little one to start rolling a little before or after this. This is because older babies that can roll over may roll onto their tummies and be unable to roll back, due to the baby's arms being wrapped in the swaddle. At this point, you can start transitioning to a sleep sack like our Zen Sack™, which is gently weighted to mimic your touch and help provide some of the comforts of swaddling even as your little one grows and changes.

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